red valerian

plant

Also known as: Centranthus ruber, Jupiter’s-beard

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Red valerian, also known as French honeysuckle, is a European herb (Centranthus ruber) that features small, crimson or white spurred flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean and has naturalized in British meadows, roadsides, and walls, often appearing in billowy masses of pink, white, or red fragrant blooms on stems up to 90 cm (3 feet) tall. Red valerian is part of the Valerianoideae subfamily, which contains various herbs used for ornamental purposes, as food, and for medicinal and perfume extraction.12

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Valerianoideae
Red valerian, or Jupiter’s-beard (Centranthus ruber), native to the Mediterranean, is widely naturalized in British meadows, on roadsides, and on walls. Its billowy masses of pink, white, or red tiny fragrant blooms are borne on stems sometimes reaching 90 cm (3 feet).
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Red valerian, or Jupiter’s-beard (Centranthus ruber), native to the Mediterranean, is widely naturalized in British meadows, on roadsides, and on walls. Its billowy masses of pink, white, or red tiny fragrant blooms are borne on stems sometimes reaching 90 cm (3 feet).
Read More